Oil spill disaster raises concern in the Gulf region

TOWN MEETINGS IN SOUTHERN PLAQUEMINES PARISH, LOUISIANA HOSTED BY THE CHILDREN'S HEALTH FUND AND THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AT COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY'S MAILMAN SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH REVEAL DEEP CONCERNS ABOUT FUTURE OF ENTIRE REGION

Two months after the Deepwater Horizon oil rig explosion caused the oil spill now globally acknowledged as the worst environmental disaster in our nation's history, the residents of the Gulf region immediately impacted are exhibiting dramatically high levels of anxiety, both among adults and children, about the future health and well-being of the region. Many children – and parents – still recovering from Katrina are now reeling from a second major trauma as a result of the oil catastrophe.

At a public town hall meeting today in Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, Irwin Redlener, MD, the President of the Children's Health Fund and the Director of the National Center for Disaster Preparedness at the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, spoke with families and children about their perceived beliefs and concerns about the impact the oil spill is having and will have on their lives and livelihoods in the region.  

"We are seeing a palpable frustration among these families due to the lack of information about health risks in this region by trusted and important authorities," said David Abramson, PhD, director of research at the National Center for Disaster Preparedness of the Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health.

Dr. Redlener added, "There is a disconnect among elected Federal and State officials and local Parish officials who don't seem to be able to provide the answers to both long and short-term risks or issues that families need to hear right now."

The team of public health experts and physicians that accompanied Dr. Redlener learned a number of points on the fact-finding mission, including a statement from a participant that the oil spill is far worse than the impact of Hurricane Katrina.

"Since Katrina, the Children's Health Fund and the National Center for Disaster Preparedness have been in the Gulf providing comprehensive medical and mental health care and, importantly, surveying the long-term health and mental health issues among children as a result of the disaster," Dr. Redlener continued.  "It was revealing to learn that residents here feel that while Katrina may have destroyed their houses, they could rebuild.  This disaster is creating a greater sense of permanence and finality to the community.  The irrevocable damage to their communities, and health, feels very real and lasting.  And that is terrifying."

SOURCE Children's Health Fund